HOBOKEN, N.J. (5/31/08)—Colgate University seniors Matt Lalli (Princeton Junction, N.J.) and Chris Eck (Fairfield, Conn.) recently were selected in the Major League Lacrosse draft held at Stevens Institute of Technology. Lalli was picked in the second round, while Eck went in the fourth.

 

Drafted by the San Francisco Dragons in the second round, Lalli was the first Patriot League player to be drafted and the 16th player overall. The Dragons also drafted Colgate’s Colin Hulme (Framingham, Mass.) in 2007 before trading him to the Boston Cannons. Eck was chosen by Boston in the fourth round with the 38th overall pick and the third of four from the Patriot League. He will join teammate Hulme with the Cannons. Colgate was the lone conference team to have two players drafted.  

 

Lalli recently was named to the All-America third team following a stellar senior season. He led all midfielders with 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points. His 27 assists ties for fourth in Raider history. A three-time all-Patriot League selection, including a two-time first-team honoree, Lalli is Colgate career record holder for assists with 95. His 89 goals is eighth all-time in Colgate history, while his 184 points ties Bob Woodruff for second all-time. He played a crucial role in the Raiders’ run to their first Patriot League title, tying the league’s record for assists in a tournament with seven, including four in the championship game. The Princeton Junction native closed out his career ranked seventh in Patriot League history in both points and assists. Lalli broke the Colgate career assists record with a stellar three-goal and four-assist performance in the Raiders’ monumental win over then No. 2 Syracuse.

 

Eck graduates as Colgate’s top faceoff specialist in program history. A first-team all-Patriot League selection, he played a major role in Colgate’s 11-6 record and run to the NCAA Tournament. He posted a program record 199 wins this season, finishing 199-128 for a 60.9 percent success rate. Eck owns the top three single-season faceoff win marks and is the career leader with 664 victories. His play in the Patriot League tournament this season was crucial to the Raiders capturing their first league title. He finished the weekend with a 30-20 record, including winning 19-of-25 in the championship game versus Bucknell, to earn all-tournament team honors. A two-time all-Patriot League second-team selection, Eck closed out his career with a 664-434 record and a .605 win percentage. His 644 wins ranks third all-time in Division I lacrosse history, while his .605 win percentage is 17th. He is sixth all-time in faceoffs attempted with 1,098. He most recently represented Colgate along with Lalli in the USILA North/South Senior Classic.